What are the differentiating factors between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Though high level of sugar than normal is always associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, there are certain differentiators between the two as mentioned below.

Type 1 is usually diagnosed during childhood while Type 2 is usually diagnosed post 30 years of age

Excess weight is associated with Type 2 while it is not with Type 1

Type 1 is related to diagnosis of high level ketone than normal while Type 2 is related to diagnosis of high level cholesterol or/and blood pressure

Type 1 treatment is with insulin pump or insulin injections while Type 2 is without medication initially or with some tablets

Controlling Type 1 without insulin is not possible while Type 2 can be controlled with medication

What are the factors that may lead to type 1 diabetes?

Though the perfect cause that leads to type 1 diabetes is unknown, some aspects that lead to this disease are:

A strong link in family

Unhealthy lifestyle

Damage to insulin producing cells in pancreas

What are the factors that may lead to type 2 diabetes?

Individuals are affected by type 2 diabetes when their pancreas stops producing adequate insulin for maintaining normal level of blood glucose, or if their body is not able to utilize produced insulin. Some important factors that lead to type 2 diabetes include:

Age: People over 40 years of age are usually affected.

Weight: Obese or being overweight are aspects that may cause this ailment.

Ethnicity: Individuals of Chinese, Black African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin are more likely to develop this disease.

Genetics: Individuals with close relatives such as a sister, brother or parent having this disease are usually at risk of being affected.

What are the signs and symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes?

Signs and symptoms that suggest presence of this disease are:

Excessive thirst feeling

Frequent urination; especially during nights

Tiredness

Loss of weight and muscle bulk

Skin infections and itching around genitals

Blurred vision

Cuts healing slowly

Dizziness

Leg cramps

What are the signs and symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes?

Symptoms and signs associated with type 2 diabetes cannot be always obvious. These are usually diagnosed during check-ups. The reason for this is that these signs are mostly mild and gradually develop over years. Some signs associated with this disease are:

Frequent urination; especially during night

Thirst feeling

Tiredness

Unexplained loss of weight

Itchy feeling around vagina or penis

Slow healing of wounds or cuts

Blurred sight or vision

What complications are associated with type 1 diabetes?

Some complications associated with this ailment are:

Prone to stroke and heart disease: With presence of diabetes, likeliness of stroke or heart disease increases 5 fold.

Damage to nerves: High levels of glucose may lead to damaging blood vessels in nerves.

Retinopathy: This condition causes retina damage. Blood vessels present in retina may grow haphazardly or become leaky. This condition can damage vision.

Foot issues: Foot nerves are damaged and hence, small cuts remain unnoticed; leading to foot ulcer.

Sexual dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction is witnessed in patients who smoke while being infected by diabetes.

Stillbirth and miscarriage: Pregnant females with this ailment are at high risk for stillbirth and miscarriage

What complications are associated with type 2 diabetes?

Increased levels of glucose can be damaging to organs, vessels and nerves. Some complications associated with this ailment include:

Increased risk of stroke or heart disease

Damage to nerves

Retinopathy (Diabetic)

Kidney disease

Foot issues

Erection issues

Stillbirth and miscarriage

Can you prevent type 1 diabetes?

There is no perfect way via which this disease can be prevented. However, following are certain things you can follow to keep this ailment at bay sometimes:

Ensuring your body is cared for

Following a healthy diet

Staying fit physically

Always remaining active

Can you prevent type 2 diabetes?

Though you can be infected with this disease if you have a family history, some lifestyle changes and diet control can help in prevention of this ailment. Some aspects that can keep this disease at bay are:

What are the lab values of tests required for type 2 diabetes?

Blood sugar: < or = 100 mg/dl (Fasting)
< 140 mg/dl for age 50 or less,
< 150mg/dl for age 50 to 60 and
< 160 mg/dl for age more than 60 (Post lunch)

What are the costs of type 1/ type 2 diabetes tests in India?

The cost of tests required for type 1/ type 2 diabetes may vary based on your city of residence and the type of diagnostic center or hospital you visit. You can find a comprehensive list of costs for these tests across different cities in India here.

What are the different treatment methods for type 1 diabetes?

Treatment methods for this disease include:

Insulin injections

Insulin pump method

Blood glucose monitoring

Following a healthy diet

Regular exercise

Controlled weight

What are the different treatment methods for type 2 diabetes?

Though a perfect cure for this disease type is not known, the following methods can be used for treatment.